The fuck is happening. Switching to sumo is really paying off. 5~ rep set weights are going up like crazy even though I'm still on a small calorie deficit.

Also if anyone is having troubles with grip, try hanging on a pull up bar with different finger combinations. I've done 3-10 second holds using as few fingers as possible, one arm holds and doing pull ups while holding the bar with 2+1 fingers. Seems to be working really well. And wrap a towel around the bar, so that there's not much friction holding you up.

I just hit another PR on deadlift. Using flat bottom shoes seems to help a lot. But the weird thing is I did it without a belt. I had a small curve on my lower back, but it wasn't a sort of "cat back" you see on youtube videos, and the weight wasn't resting on my spine. I taped the lift to see my tech. I'd love to continue not using belt, because it seems I don't get much advantage from using it. But I have a very small curve if I don't use it. But I can find lots of videos of powerlifters having a small curve.

So is this a dangerous back angle or not?

also, dem ass. And I probably should try to use more leg drive. I can upload it on youtube when I find a way to flip it

E:

20th February 2012
Last edited by Seith; 20th February 2012 at 10:03PM.
Post #303

You can't have perfect technique all the time, and for the most part, you won't die instantly from having a "cat back". Try your best to keep back straight; lower weight, fix technique... whatever you need to insure good form.

About the belt - I never use it. No need, it is useless scientifically. I have forsaken it because I prefer my back to have more flexibility and so that I would have to actively be conscious of my technique.

EDIT:

looking at video, you got an ok form. You might want to lose the underhand + over hand sort of grip. Wanting to push more weight is fine, but not on the expense of your biceps. If you are having grip issues, do heavy db rows.

How much weight is too much for calf raises? I don't want to tear shit.

You'd be able to tell when your knees cave in.

Very uncommon tear around the people who train to get bigger. It's a stationary position, so there are no sharp leg movements. It's an up and down motion. But then again, it can even happen when doing simple stretching, so ease your mind.

Very uncommon tear around the people who train to get bigger. It's a stationary position, so there are no sharp leg movements. It's an up and down motion. But then again, it can even happen when doing simple stretching, so ease your mind.

Got it.

Also another question.. Yesterday i DL'ed for like the 5th time ever. I started out with good form, Middle was really shitty form, because i felt it, and tried to correct it and succeeded at correcting it at the end. But now i got some lower back pain. How badly did i fuck something up?

I usually define "fucking up" something as a see-a-doctor, can't get out of bed; walking is a pain and sitting. And when I say pain, I mean actual pain - not tense or stiff muscles - but I am about to cry.

The deadlift is awesome. I'll just throw in my 2 cents:
- bicep tear is rare and happens with wrong technique. it's when you don't lockout your arms completely
and forget to keep them under tension. you can actually see how his left bicep contracts to move
the weight, which is stupid.
if you are doing additional grip work, then parallel grip isn't that important. but work your grip hard. i
like to use thick bars (~ 2,7 inches diameter) and my Captains of Crush gripper.

- the belt helps a bit by allowing your belly to create more pressure. it has something to press against.
they suck though, because you should be able to create the pressure on your own without the aid
of a belt. if you can't... well, that sucks. try lifting something heavy without it. ("belly pressure",
intra-abdominal pressure, intra-thoracic pressure. basically what you do when doing the valsalva
maneuver.)

- a small back curve won't kill you. in fact, it's what really strengthens your back. the keyword is small
here; if you exaggerate it, you'll definitely snap something when lifting heavy.

Did you guys read Dinosaur Training? It's about old school strongman training, pretty cool.